Tufting machine



Dec. 27, 1932. MURPHEY 1,892,161

TUFTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 1, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Flayd MMUT/fij.

ATTORNEYS.

F. M. MURPHEY TUFTING MACHINE Dec. 27, 1932,

Filed Aug. 1, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 TI INVENTOR Floyd M Mary/7g m W IATTORNEYS- Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOYD M.MURPHEY, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF

' ONE-HALF T0 LENAWEE or MICHIGAN TEXTILES, INC., OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ACORPORATION TUFTING- MACHINE Application filed August 1, 1930, SerialNo. 472,268.

This invention relates to machines for forming loops or tufts on fabric.

The main objects of this invention are to provide a machine of thischaracter which has a minimum number of parts and extreme simplicity indesign; to provide a machine which Will form a succession or series ofloops and then cut the loops successively as formed so as to produce along pile which is securely held in the sheet of fabric to which it isat tached, and to provide improved mechanism of extremely simplecharacter which can be readily applied to a standard form ofsewingmachine with a minimum of modification to the sewing machine.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanyingdrawings, in which i Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation ofmy improved mechanism adapted to a standard form of sewing machine.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective showing the loopforming hook engaging the strand.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the mechanism moved to adifferent position, showing the loop being severed by the knife.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking inthe (11120131011 indicated.

Fig. 4A is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken substantially uponthe line 4A4A of Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1, looking inthe direction indicated.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 7 7of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail partly in section and partly inelevation showing the gripping means for holding the loop when formedand the actuating mechanism for releasing the same.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing a series of tufts formed in myimproved illustration.

Fig. 10 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 11 is a face view of the same.

My improved mechanismembodying the subject-matter of this invention isshown applied to a standard well known form of sewing machine comprisinga base or bed plate 12, an upwardl and outwardly projecting fixed arm ornec I 13, integrally formed on the base 12, the outer free end of whichis pro vided with vertically spaced guides 14 and 15 for supporting anaxially slidable vertically disposed needle bar 16.

A bell crank arm 17 is pivoted'at 18 on one side of the fixed arm 13 andis rocked on its pivot by a pitman arm 19, the upper end of whichengages a stud 20 on the bell crank 17 and the lower end of which isprovided with a yoke which surrounds a cam 21 rigidly mounted on a maindrive shaft 22. A combined pulley and fly wheel 23 is also rigidlmounted on the main shaft 22 through whic vsuitablexpower may be appliedfor rotating the shaft.

The main shaft 22 is horizontally disposed and suitably journalled inthe lower end of the fixed arm 13 and in an upstandin bearing support24, located at the end of t e bed plate'opposite to the base of the arm13.

The shaft 22 drives the customary four motion feeding mechanism throughthe medium of a double cam 25, which imparts vertical reciprocatorymovement to a serrated feeder 26 pivotally mounted on one end of ahorizontally disposed'feeder arm 27. The other end of the arm 27 ispivoted at 28 to the top end of a vertically disposed rocker arm 29. Thelower end of the rocker arm 29 is pivoted at 30 to the base plate 12,and rocking motion is imparted to thearm by a' crank arm 31 driven by acrank 32 on the main shaft 22.

Inthe drawings, the usual work support has been omitted to more clearlyshow the details of the mechanism, but it will be understood that thefeeder26 passes through suitable slots in the work support and throatplate associated therewith in the usual manner for feeding the materialthrough the machine.

A presser foot 33 is mounted on the head end 34 of the fixed arm 13 andsuitable mechanism provided for raising and lowering the presser foot inthe customary manner.

The needle bar 16 has a needle 35 removably mounted in the lower endthereof in the usual manner and carries a thread or strand 3? whichpasses through a tensioning device 3 The end of the rocker arm 17adjacent the head 34 is pivoted to one end ofa link 38 which has itsother end pivotally connected to a fitting 39 rigidly secured on theneedle bar 16 so that rocking movement of the arm 17 imparts verticalreciprocation to the needle bar in the usual manner.

My improved mechanism for making tufts by means of a series of severedloops comprises a loop forming hook 40 rigidlymounted on a horizontallydisposed axially reciprocable bar 41 which is journalled in upstandingbearings 42 and 43 integrally formed on the bed plate 12. The end of therod 41 which passes through the bearing support 43 is square orrectangular in cross-section, as shown most clearly in Fig. 4A, so as tomaintain the hook 40 in an upright and definitely guided position. Thebar 41 is horizontally reciprocated in its bearings by a pitman arm 44,one end of which is pivoted at 45 to the arm and the other end of whichis pivoted at 46 to the lower depending end of the rocker arm 17.

The outer tip end of the hook 40 is positioned so as to pass closelyalong the side of the needle 35 and thereby pass'through a, loop of thestrand 36 which is formed when the needle passes downwardly through thematerial and begins its return 'movement. The hook 40 is provided with avertical longitudinally disposed slot 47 for receiving a loop cuttingknife blade 48 which is mounted rigidly on a frame 49 pivoted at 50 onthe hook 40.

Means are provided for actuating the knife 48 and comprise a cam 51rigidly mounted on the upstanding bearing support 24 in thepath ofmovement of the hook 40. The cam 51 has a sloping face 52 against whichthe forward end of the knife frame 49 abuts and rides up as shown mostclearly in Fig. 3, causing the knife blade 48 to enter the slot 47 andthussever the strand 36 through which the hook 40 has passed. A helicaltension spring 53 has one end attached to the knife frame 49 and theother end attached to the lower end or base of the hook 40 for normallyholding the knife in open position as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Means are provided for holding the free end of the strand 36 until afterthe needle has taken its next stitch so as not to withdraw the free endwhich has been severed from the material and comprise a stationaryabutment 54 mounted at the top end 55 of the bearing support 24 andterminating just below the throat plate and feeder 26, as shown mostclearly in Figs. 4 and 5. A gripper arm 56 issecured at 57 to ahorizontal transversely disposed bar 58 which is rigidly secured to oneend of a stud59 and slidable on a rod 60. The stud 59 and rod 60 areslidable through a bar 61 which is axially slidably supported in theupper end of a yertically disposed rigidly mounted support post 62attached to the bed plate 12.

Means are provided for reciprocating the bar 61 axially for impartingtransverse movement to the arm gripper 56 through the medium of bar 58,supporting stud 59 and rod 60, and comprise an upstanding frame 63having its base transversely slidable in a guide 64 mounted on the topsurface of the base plate 12. The frame 63 is provided with arectangular opening 65 for embracing a cam 66 rigidly secured on androtated by the main shaft 22.

The rod 60 is slidable through the supporting bar 58, and the endthereofwhich protrudes rearwardly is surrounded by a helical compression spring68, one end of which abuts against the supporting bar 58 and the otherend of which bears agalnst a pin 69 which passes transversely throughthe tip end of the rod 60. A set collar 70 is provided on the oppositeend of the rod 60 for adjusting and maintaining tension on the spring68.

Means are provided for reciprocating the gripper arm 56 longitudinallyof the base 12 against the action of the spring 68 and comprises a cam71 rigidly secured to the main shaft 22. The cam 71 has an inclined face7 2 against which bears and rides a depending arm 73 rigidly mounted onthe underside of the supporting bar 58.

In the operation of this machine, a suitable source of power isconnected to the combined pulley and fly wheel 23 for imparting rotarymotion to the main shaft 22 and for driving the cam 21 so as to impart arocking movement to the bell crank arm 17 in the usual manner of suchmachines.

,The feeding mechanism is actuated in the usual manner for progressivelyand intermittently feeding the material after each stitch of the needle35. Vertical reciprocation of the needle 35 carries the strand 36 downthrough the material to form a loop on the underside, which loop isengaged by the free end-ofthe gripper arm 56 abutting againstthe freeend of the fixed arm 54.

The loop forming hook 40 is reciprocated through the medium of the bellcrank arm 17, pitman 44 and supporting bar 41. The end of the hookpasses through the loop of the strand, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and asthe hook approaches its limit of movement, the knife frame 49.rides upthe inclined face 52 of the cam 51, thus causing the knife blade tosever the loop as it enters the slot 47 of the hook.

The gripper arm 56 holds the severed end of the strand so as to preventthe needle from cam 66 on the main shaft 22 through the medium of theframe 63, bar 61 and supporting bar 58. v/ I As will be seen from theforegoing description, this mechanism is extremely simple, containingbut a relatively few parts and is of rugged construction so as to give-amaximum of eflicient service without need of repair or adjustment.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rocking said bell crank, a strandcarrying needle reciprocated by one end of said bell crank, fabricfeeding mechanism actuated by said main shaft, linearly reciprocatingloop forming mechanism actuated by the other end of said bell crank, andmeans for cutting the loops successively as formed.

2. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rocking said bell crank, a strandcarrying needle reciprocated by oneend of said bell crank, fabricfeedingmechanismactuated by said main shaft, reciprocating loop formingmechanism actuated by the other end of said bell crank, a knife forcutting the loops successively as formed, and a cam stationarily mountedon said frame for actuating said knife to cut the formed loops.

3. In a sewing machine, a 'base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said'frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rocking said bell crank, a strandcarrying needle reciprocated by one end of said bell crank, fabricfeeding mechanism actuated by said main shaft, reciprocating loopforming mechanism actuated by the other end of said bell crank, a knifepivoted on said loop forming mechanism for cutting the loopssuccessively as formed, and a cam stationarily mounted on said frame foractuating said knife to cut the formed loops.

4. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame,

connections between said shaft and arm. for

rocking said bell crank, a strand carrying needle reciprocated by oneend of said bell crank, fabric feeding mechanism actuated by said mainshaft, linearly reciprocating loop forming mechanism actuated by theother end of said bell crank, and retaining nieans for holding the loopwhen formed.

5. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rocking said bell crank, a strandcarrying needle reci rocatedby one end of said bell crank, fabrlcfeeding mechanism actuated by said main shaft, linearly reciprocatingloop forming mechanism actuated by the other end of said bell crank,retaining means for holding the loop when formed, and means for cuttingthe loops successively as formed.

6. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rocking said bell crank, a strandcarrying needle reciprocated by one end of said bel crank, fabricfeeding mechanism actuated by said main shaft, reciprocatin loop formingmechanism actuated by the ot er end of said bell crank, a knife forcutting the loops successively as formed, a cam statipnarily mounted onsaid frame for actuating said knife to cut the formed loops, andretaining means for holding the loop when formed.

7. In a sewing machine, a base frame, a main shaft journaled on saidframe, a bell crank rocker arm fulcrumed on said frame, connectionsbetween said shaft and arm for rockingsaid bell crank, a strand carryingneedle reciprocated by one end of said bell crank, fabric feedingmechanism actuated by said main shaft, reciprocating loop formingmechanism actuated by the other end of said bell crank, a knife pivotedon said loop forming mechanism for cutting the loops successively asformed, and a fixed cam positioned in the path of movement of said knifefor engaging and actuating said knife to cut the formed loops.

8. A tufting machine comprising a reciprocating needle,'loop formingmechanism cooperating with the needle, a pair of gripping jawscooperating with the needle for holding the end of the strand carried bythe needle and thus preventing the needle during reciprocatory motionfrom pulling the previously formed loop from the fabric and means formoving one of said jaws away from the other jaw for purposes ofreleasing one loop and grasping another and additional means forlinearly moving said jaw in a direction transverse to the firstmentioned motion.

FLOYD M. MURPHEY.

